U.S. Accuses Cuba of Tampering With Diplomatic Pouch

WASHINGTON — Accusing Cuba of a "blatant violation" of international law, the State Department said Friday that Cuban authorities delayed distribution of U.S. diplomatic pouches in Havana recently and inspected one of them.

Spokesman Nicholas Burns said the U.S. protested the incident "formally, clearly and emphatically."

Cuban officials told U.S. diplomats that the pouch was not sealed properly and arrived open. They also said it contained "objectionable" material.

The pouch was one of 12 containing unclassified material bound for the U.S. mission in Havana.

Rejecting Havana's explanation that the pouch arrived open, another U.S. official said a box inside the pouch was opened as well.

The U.S. mission distributes materials that often are not available to Cubans, including documents relating to human rights. The pouch in dispute contained copies of a U.S. report on the type of international aid Cuba can expect to receive if and when a transition to democracy occurs there.